
Backers of a North Jersey casino expansion ad campaign, the one that supported a referendum vote to take gaming in to the north part of the Garden State, have thrown into the towel.
Investor and real estate mogul Jeff Gural (right) with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (left) claims that general public mistrust of politicians is a major reason nj’s casino expansion proposal is doomed to failure. Gural was a backer of the expansion push.
OUR Turn NJ, that has been backed by billionaire investor Paul Fireman and estate that is real Jeff Gural, pulled its media advertising campaign, apparently unwilling to plow additional money into exactly what seems like a lost cause. Fireman and Gural had hoped to build one casino apiece, in the north regarding the state near the border with New York.
The OUR Turn NJ (OTNJ) group said that polling revealed little appetite among voters for the proposal to split Atlantic City’s longstanding monopoly on casino video gaming and create two new licenses in the north. Voters are set to decide on the issue on A november 8 ballot, but otnj now seems resigned towards the indisputable fact that residents will likely vote overwhelmingly against expansion.
Blindsided by Media Blitz
the Turn NJ said on Thursday said that an internal poll found just 37 percent of New Jersey residents supported amending the constitution to pave just how for the new casinos. Meanwhile, a poll that is external this week by Rutgers-Eagleton put the quantity also lower, at just 35 percent, while noting that 57 percent had been from the concept.
The pro-expansion group admitted that it been blindsided by the news blitz launched by the opposition campaign, ‘Trenton’s Bad Bet,’ which focused almost completely on the perceived untrustworthiness of the state’s politicians, instead than the casinos by themselves.
‘Trenton governmental bosses are as much as their old games,’ proclaims one television spot, which continues to claim that politicians will use the new casino revenue nevertheless they want, ‘just they bailed out Donald Trump’s failing gambling enterprises. like they did whenever’
Mistrust of Trenton
The campaign has been markedly effective in experiencing public distrust of lawmakers. Polling by OTNJ discovered that just ten % of voters believed politicians would deliver on making use of the revenue for the purposes promised. Voters were additionally worried about the not enough details, such as precisely where the casinos could be built, or the rate that is exact of they would likely pay.
‘We believe deeply that gaming expansion to Northern New Jersey is a remarkable opportunity that should not be squandered,’ Gural and Fireman said in a formal statement.
‘ We have committed $4 billion in private investment for this state to create world-class resort destinations with gaming. The advantages include 43,000 new jobs and billions of dollars in recaptured revenue, a uncommon opportunity for New Jersey.
‘The information, however, speaks for it self,’ the investors noted. ‘The present climate that is political New Jersey and voters’ concerns about the shortage of details relating to the effort have proved overwhelming.’
American Gaming Association Recommends Repealing Sports Betting Ban
American Gaming Association boss Geoff Freeman, left, wants sports betting legalized, but that could hamper DraftKings CEO Jason Robins’ daily fantasy sports market. (Image: Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The American Gaming Association (AGA) is recommending to Congress that it repeal the nearly quarter-century old ban that is federal sports wagering.
The Professional and recreational Sports Protection Act (PASPA) passed in 1992 prevented states from offering gambling lines on sports. Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana were issued special exemptions, as all four of these states were offering some variation of sports lotteries in 1992.
Now 24 years later, the AGA believes it’s time to annul PASPA.
A year ago, the AGA formed its Illegal Gambling Advisory Board (IGAB) led by former FBI Deputy Director Tim Murphy. This week, the board issued five conclusions as to why PASPA should be revoked.
Murphy’s IGAB consists of former police force officials now working to expose the massive unlawful gambling market that is black the United States.
‘ The approach that is current sports gambling within the United States is not working,’ Murphy said this week in a statement. ‘It’s fueling enterprises that are criminal. The time has come to repeal the current sports ban that is betting replace it with rigorous regulations that benefit states, protect consumers and continue maintaining the integrity of the games.’
PASPA Strikeout
In its ‘Law Enforcement Summit on prohibited Sports Betting,’ the IGAB opines that PASPA did precisely the reverse of what it meant to accomplish.
‘Instead of curbing betting that is illegal what the law states has driven recreations betting underground, creating a thriving, $150-$500 billion black market with no consumer protection,’ the IGAB reports.
The IGAB thinks illegal sports betting fuels unlawful syndicates, and that an available, transparent, and regulated activities industry that is betting deliver a blow to those rogue gambling bands.
Though the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, along with the NCAA, recently won a federal appeals court decision against New Jersey to block the state from providing sports gambling, the leagues are gradually easing their hardline stances.
A franchise is being brought by the NHL to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season, and NFL owner Mark Davis is attempting to bring his Oakland Raiders to Sin City. Leagues have traditionally opposed Las Vegas due to its legalized sports betting.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is additionally up to speed. ‘we have no basic idea what’s happening and there’s no transparency,’ Silver said in May. ‘it is thought by me should be legal; I think it ought to be managed; it should be transparent.’
Canada Fighting Too
Sports wagering in Canada remains unlawful, but that was very nearly changed recently, almost.
Unfortunately for all those looking to place wagers legitimately on displaying events in Canada, a bill to authorize single-game wagering was rejected into the House of Commons this week.
The ‘Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act’ legislation failed 155 votes against to 133 in support.
Much like the AGA, the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has been campaigning for a governed activities gambling industry.
‘I regret that I don’t have better news for Canadians,’ CGA President Bill Rutsey stated in a declaration. ‘ Those who understand what’s in danger, and the benefits that could exist by implementing regulation, are frustrated and dissatisfied by the vote.’
The CGA estimates over $10.5 billion is wagered illegally on sports by Canadians every year.
Maryland Lottery Controversy Over-Inflated $262 Million Tech Contract
Maryland Lottery Director Gordon Medenica had been a executive that is senior a business enterprise that had been partially owned by Scientific Games. (Image: Kaitlin Newman)
The Maryland Lottery deliberately inflated the price tag on a $262 million technology contract, wasting millions of dollars that would otherwise have been spent on public training and health programs, according to the losing bidder, London-based IGT.
An eight-year deal to provide central monitoring and a control system for ticket sales, by including forms of internet gambling that are not legal in the state in a letter of complaint seen by the Associated Press, IGT complains that lottery officials overstated the value of the contract.
The contract was ultimately awarded to incumbent provider Scientific Games, the bidder that is highest by $50 million.
Flawed Assessment
IGT says lottery officials later told them which they bloated the contract to consist of online gambling in order ‘to avoid future review and approvals by the [Board of Public Functions,’ in the event that on the web gambling is legalized. The Board of Public Works, is needed to approve all myfreepokies.com contracts over $200,000 by state law.
But this amounted to ‘materially flawed evaluation,’ stated IGT, particularly for the continuing state facing an $800 million budget shortfall.
Curiously, Maryland is not making any noises about regulating online gambling within the near future. Senator Edward Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore and Howard counties), the Senate’s primary spending plan journalist, told the Baltimore Sun recently that the legislature is ‘strongly opposed’ to legalizing gaming that is online.
Questions over Lottery Directors’ Links to Scientific
IGT noted that as the provider that is incumbent Scientific Games should have been in a situation to produce a lower offer because it currently has staff and infrastructure in place.
And now, conservative news blog RedState.com is questioning whether Lottery Director Gordon Medenica’s past professional relationship with Scientific has any such thing regarding the problem.
It quotes an anonymous ‘industry insider’ whom stated: ‘ The bid that is multiple and legislative scrutiny will certainly be uncomfortable for Gordon Medenica. Medenica ended up being an executive that is senior a nj-new jersey business venture that was partially owned by Scientific Games. Offered this direct and well-known relationship, it is curious from the entire bidding process. which he don’t recuse himself’
But Scientific Games’ senior vice president of Global Lottery Systems, Patrick McHugh, said his business won the bidding process square and fair because it outperformed its competitors in testing. He additionally noted that in 2016 the lottery generated record ticket sales of $1.9 billion producing $570 million to be used for good reasons.
‘ Our score that is high reflects Games’ investment in services and services designed to continue the lottery’s sales and profitability momentum for the beneficiaries of this state of Maryland,’ he said in a statement.
Wisconsin Gambling Addict Gets Probation for Delivering a huge selection of Pounds of Marijuana
Gambling can be risky business, but a Wisconsin gambling addict discovered that paying for your wagers by delivering cannabis is really a bet that undoubtedly does not repay. Because of Judge James Peterson, pictured above he’ll be getting a chance that is second. (Image: Scripps Media/rightwisconsin.com)
Wisconsin gambling addict Kongsaden Khammanivong has been given a second opportunity by a Madison judge.
In July of 2015, Khammanivong was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to circulate more than 50 kilograms (100 pounds) of marijuana between January 2014 and his arrest in July of 2015.
Khammanivong admitted he turned to delivering medications to fuel his gambling addiction. During their September sentencing that is 20th Khammanivong sobbed to the judge as he explained how gambling took over his life.
Khammanivong revealed he’s attended Gamblers Anonymous and contains prevented gambling enterprises since his arrest 445 days prior.
In total, Khammanivong faced as much as 25 years in jail. But this week District Judge James Peterson in the District that is western of went easy on Khammanivong in hopes that the gambling addict can turn his life around.
Instead of sending the 49-year-old behind bars, Peterson sentenced Khammanivong to 11 days in jail. With credit for time served stemming from 2015, Khammanivong left the courtroom a free of charge man.
‘He hasn’t relapsed. He’s doubled straight down on helping his family members. He gets just how serious this is,’ Khammanivong’s lawyer Marcus Berghahn told the Wausau Daily Herald.
Khammanivong’s casino addiction reportedly cost him his wedding, though it is uncertain where or how much cash he lost gambling. The court was told by him he was paid several hundred dollars for every marijuana transport.
Pretty Peterson Please
The Western District of Wisconsin estimated Khammanivong delivered as much as 176 pounds of cannabis during the period that is 17-month.
Based on Narcotic News, a lb of marijuana is currently selling for upwards of $4,000 in Wisconsin. Which means Khammanivong helped transport over $700,000 worth of marijuana.
Needless to say, marijuana is not heroin. Peterson apparently thought Khammanivong’s claims that he didn’t play an integral role in the drug ring, but merely served as a transporter.
Regardless, Peterson’s sentencing is certainly light considering the amount of cannabis Khammanivong was moving.
Just final month, a former steel company CEO in Alabama was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for using insurance funds to pay off gambling debts incurred at Wynn Las Vegas.
Also in August, a story that is bizarre about two similar yet separate incidents involving female gambling addicts. Both women had stolen exactly $1.7 million from their employers that are respective Connecticut and Minnesota, and both lost all the money gambling.
Diane Eiler of Minnesota was sentenced to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised probation. Patricia Meehan of Connecticut, who was first charged in 2010 and served 46 months behind bars, violated her parole in 2016 and was handed one more 8 weeks in jail and two years of supervised home release.
Like Brother, Like Brother
The feds still have a full case against Khammanivong, not Kongsaden Khammanivong but his younger cousin Khongkha Khammanivong.
Khongkha, 43, is facing more charges that are serious. A total of nine counts for distributing methamphetamine, cannabis, and cocaine have been levied on the younger Khammanivong, and he’s additionally being accused of facilitating cash laundering.
He’s facing a total of 60 years in prison and $5.5 million in fines.
Kongsaden Khammanivong is just another example of a Vietnamese or Thailand living that is migrant the United States whom is promoting a gambling addiction. The rampant issue has recently gained much unwarranted attention as Little Saigon communities have a problem with illegal gambling homes.
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